Acclaimed filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson's new project The Master had a very successful weekend. The film, which opened in New York and Los Angeles, broke United States box office records for arthouse releases.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, by the end of Friday The Master had already broken the arthouse record for most profits in a single day. The film earned $242,127 in five locations in New York and Los Angeles, averaging $48,425. That beats the record set by another cinematic Anderson. Wes Anderson's latest film Moonrise Kingdom earned an average of $43,082 on its opening day.

The Master also broke Moonrise Kingdom's record for opening weekend arthouse earnings. Wes Anderson's film made an average of $130,749 per arthouse cinema. The Master averaged $145,949.

The film, which examines a cult leader resembling Scientology's L Ron Hubbard, has also received critical praise. Anderson won the Silver Lion prize for best director at the Venice Film Festival, where Philip Seymour Hoffman and Joaquin Phoenix shared the best actor award.

Paul Thomas Anderson has already established himself as an auteur with films like Boogie Nights (1997) and There Will Be Blood (2007). The critical and monetary success of his latest venture cements his position as a cinematic icon.